Today we’d like to introduce you to Shruti Kumar.
Hi Shruti, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, my journey to where I am today really began back in India when I was a kid, joining my mom in art classes and creating. I think that’s where a part of art and expression took root in me.
When it came time to decide what I wanted to do after high school, I knew I wanted to pursue art and design. But my parents didn’t see it as something I could build a stable future around. After many difficult conversations and considerable persuasion, I eventually followed their wishes — earning a bachelor’s degree in business and then a master’s degree in HR.
During my master’s, I was also working full-time, and it became increasingly clear that I wasn’t doing something that brought me joy or fulfillment. That urge to make art a bigger part of my life never went away.
After six years of persistence, numerous college applications, portfolio submissions, and extensive paperwork, I finally moved across the world and began my bachelor’s degree at SCAD. It meant starting over, financially and academically, but I decided to take that chance on myself.
It was all worth it. I finally found what I had been searching for a space to learn, to explore, and to work alongside incredibly creative minds. It’s been a journey full of challenges, learning, and joy. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work with startups, design companies, and now at NC State University. Each experience has shaped me into the designer I am today. I can’t thank my 23-year-old self enough for her persistence, resilience, and belief in me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been anything but a smooth road for me. Even deciding what I wanted to do with my life wasn’t easy—especially when my parents weren’t sure about my choice to pursue design. One of my first big challenges was convincing them that I didn’t want to take a traditional career path, and that design could be meaningful and sustainable for me.
Finances were another big challenge. Design school is a huge commitment—emotionally and financially—and it definitely wasn’t cheap. Balancing the pressure of an intense program while worrying about money was stressful. But looking back, it was absolutely worth it. The exposure, learning, and experiences I gained were things I couldn’t have accessed on my own back home in India.
Language and culture were another layer of challenge. Moving to a new country meant adjusting to a completely different way of living—from language and social norms to something as simple as food. Food was actually the hardest part for me at first—I’m a total food-driven person, and it took time to understand and connect with what felt right for me here.
Then came the job search, which was incredibly stressful—especially as an international student. Like many others, I worried about finding a job that could support me financially and help me pay off my loans. To make things even harder, I graduated right when COVID hit, which meant dealing with isolation, uncertainty, and a job market that was still figuring out remote work.
But honestly, the biggest challenge I’ve faced—and still face—is continuing to believe and trust in myself. While I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had, it’s also been mentally draining at times. I put a lot of myself into my work—partly because I love what I do, and partly because I know how hard I worked to get here. It’s not something I take for granted. I know, right? Sometimes I look back and wonder how I came this far when believing in myself felt so hard. The truth is, we can all run out of positivity and belief when life and circumstances get heavy. And that’s okay. To anyone reading this — it’s okay to feel like you can’t do it sometimes. Be gentle with yourself. Take a break, slow down, and spend time with people who lift you up and remind you that you’re loved.
Therapy has helped me a lot in that process—learning to slow down, reflect, and build confidence from within. I also find joy in creating outside of work—through DIY projects, photography, or just playful experiments. Those moments remind me why I fell in love with creativity in the first place.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a UX/UI designer, and what truly sets me apart is that I don’t just see design as a job. I see it as a way to make people’s lives a little easier, a little better. For me, if the people my designs are not benefiting from it, it defeats the purpose of being a designer. I often find myself caught between leadership goals and the person on the other side of the screen. Trying to keep them both happy is an art of its own.
There have been times when I didn’t get it right, or when I wasn’t able to connect directly with users. Caring deeply about the user is both my strength and, sometimes, my challenge. Oh boy, it would be so much easier to just design something that makes my boss happy, but where’s the fun in that? Haha.
If I had a magic wand, I’d love to meet all the teachers, parents, consumers, and social workers I’ve designed for. I’d ask them questions, listen to their experiences, and learn how to make my designs even better for them.
Even though that care doesn’t always come through perfectly in my designs, I keep learning and working hard to make sure it does. That’s what I’m most proud of.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I don’t know if it’s exactly surprising, but I have a pretty great sense of humor and love bringing a sense of playfulness into what I create. I really enjoy experimenting with colors, fonts, and adding little twists to things, especially when there are no rules, like in my personal projects. It’s so refreshing to see designs that do that too—fun and unexpected! They just make me smile.
Also, if I’m ever in a bookstore, you’ll probably find me in the children’s section. I absolutely love the tactile books, colors, and creativity are just so joyful and full of life. They remind me that design doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful. Exploring those books keeps my inner child alive and inspires me to bring that same sense of wonder and joy into my work. I believe that learning and growing can be fun, and grownups deserve a bit of that playful energy in our everyday lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theshrutikumar.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-kumar-644a0746/
